Check and check-selecting device



1939- w. K. SCHAUWEKER CHECK AND CHECK-SELECTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1938 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR. William K.Schauwel er BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 7, 1939 angers 2,179,023 7 CHECK AND CHECK-SELECTING DEVICE William K. Schauweker, Cleveland, Ohio Application August 29,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to check-controlled mechanism and to a special check for use therewith. One of the objects of the invention is to provide, for the operation of such mechanism, a

5 check the cost of the reproduction of which will be so high as to render it impossible of being counterfeited profitably.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is especially adapted to select checks made in accordance with my invention from coins or slugs that may be introduced thereinto and to deliver said checks in operative relation to the mechanism to be controlled thereby.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a check possessing less resiliency than is possessed by slugs of any of the ordinaryrelatively cheap metals and materials, as well as of less resiliency than is possessed by the coins by which coin-controlled mechanisms are usually operated; also to provide, for cooperation with such nonresilient checks, a check-selecting and distributing device comprising one or more chutes and associated parts which will provide for the effective selection of the checks embodying my invention for the subsequent operation of any checkcontrolled mechanism with which the aforesaid device is intended to cooperate.

Other and more limited objects will be pointed out hereinafter in connection with the accom panying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation, with parts broken away, of a checkselecting and distributing device made in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 a plan view of my 35 check, with certaln parts broken away; and Fig. 3 a view in perspective of said check, with parts of the same broken away.

In the drawing there are illustrated only the parts of my check-selecting device, it being understood that the parts so illustrated may form an integral part of a check-controlled mechanism of any kind, such as employed with the present type of coin-controlled telephones, vending machines, phonographs, games, or the like.

Describing the parts by reference characters, l and l l denote parallel plates which are secured together in spaced parallel relation, as by means of screws l2 and spacing sleeves l3. The plate [0 is provided with openings l4 and I5, for the reception'of different-sized checks, which may correspond respectively to the openings provided for the reception of dimes and nickels for the operation of ordinary coin-controlled mechanism. Extending downwardly from the openings l4 and I5 are the initial or receiving chutes l6, Ili

1938, Serial No. 227,305 (01. 194-4) respectively. Each of these chutes comprises a substantially vertical receiving portion ll, Il a downwardly and laterally inclined'portion I8, 18 and a laterally offset downwardly directed portion [9, Ill Directly beneath the bottoms of the 5 chutes I 6, Mi are impact elements 20, 20 respectively, each of said elements consisting preferably of a flat spring which is mounted for vertical and angular adjustment upon a stud 2|, 2W, extending through a vertical slot 22, 22*, the 0 springs being clamped in any vertical and angular positions to which they may be moved by means of the nuts 23, 23 respectively, mounted on the ends of the studs which project through the said slots.

' A and A denote delivery chutes which are located belowthe impact elements 20 and 20 respectively, and from which chutes the checks constructed in accordance with my invention are delivered to the operative parts of the check-con- 20 trolled mechanism with which my device cooperates. E'ach chute is conveniently formed between downwardly inclined chute members 24, and 24 25 themembers 25 and 25 being 10-. I cated below upper chute members 26, 26*, re- 25 spectively, the chute members 26, 26 each having a downwardly inclined wall and being longitudinally adjustable,in the general direction of the chutes A, A by means of slots 2.1, 2', adapted to receive clamping and adjusting screws 28, 28 respectively.

B and B represent delivery chutes that are located laterally beyond the chutes A and A respectively, the chutes B and B being provided between the chute members 29, 30 and 29 30 respectively. The chute members 29, 29 comprise each a portion extending downwardly as far as the bottoms of the chute members 30, 39 and an upper curved portion located above the impact members 20, 20 and below and at one side of the 40 delivery portions of the chutes Hi, w thereabove. Each chute member 29, 29 is pivotally secured to the plate H], as by means of an ear 3!, 3H and screw 32, 32 and is also adjustably secured to the plate Ill by means of an ear 33, 33 having a slot 34, 34 therein andscrews 35, 35 extending through said slots, respectively. Each chute member 30, 30 extends downwardly below the chute member 26, 26

In cooperation with the parts thus far described, I employ a particularly non-resilient check consistsing preferably of a short cylindrical receptacle, in the form of a shallow box having a bottom 4|] provided with an upstanding cylindrical wall and a cover H having a cylindrica] wall adapted to be received within the former cylindrical wall. Within the receptacle thus formed, I place ballasting and shock-absorbing material. For such material, I preferably employ mercury, indicated at 42, which only partially fills the receptacle. In practice, I have found that best results are accomplished by filling the receptacle to less than one-half of its capacity with mercury. Where mercury is used I employ for the receptacle a metal which is capable of withstanding-the destructive action thereof, steel having been found suitable for this purpose. The telescoping parts of the receptacle are fitted tightly together so that the check is capable of withstanding repeated use.

With the parts constructed and arranged in the manner described, the operation of my cheeks and my cooperating check selecting device is as follows, it being understood that checks used with the aforesaid device will be of such diameters as to enable 'them to be inserted, with only a small amount of clearance, within the opening I4 and I5. Assuming one of my checks has been inserted in the opening Hi, it first strikes the inclined surface of the receiving chute l6 beneath the section it thereof and thence is delivered downwardly through the laterally offset section 19 upon the impact element 20. The purpose of constructing the chute IS in the particular manner shown herein is to prevent my check from being given a rotary motion, prior to its delivery upon the impact element 20, in a direction which will cause it to rebound over the chute member 26 and thus enter the chute B. With the impact element positioned properly with respect to the delivery end of the chute I6 and with respect to the laterally spaced inlets of the chutes A and B, the rebound of my check therefrom will be so limited in extent and in direction of movement that it will be delivered into the chute A, as shown by the arrows C, said chute being arranged to deliver my check to the cooperating portion of the particular check-controlled mechanism with which my selecting device is to be used.

Should a slug of any of the ordinary metals (including lead), or a coin made of any of the metals used for its production, be inserted in the opening I 3, it will, by virtue of its greater resilience, be delivered from the impact surface into the chute B, as shown by the arrows D, whence it may be delivered in turn to a receptacle such as is ordinarily provided for the reception of slugs or for the reception of coins which are returned to the user.

It is within the purview of my invention to use other damping or shock-absorbing material in the receptacle of my check; but I have found mercury to be the material best suited for this purpose because of its high specific gravity and its fluidity, the latter quality ensuring its presence immediately above the portion of the receptacle which strikes the impact members 2|], 20

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A check for operating a check controlled device, said check comprising a closed thin cylindrical receptacle having therein a metal of high specific gravity filling only a portion of the space enclosed within the said receptacle and being freely movable within said space.

2. A check for operating a check controlled device, said check comprising a closed thin cylindrical receptacle made of resilient material and having therein a metal of high specific gravity filling only a portion of the space enclosed within the said receptacle and freely movable within said space.

3. A check for operating a check controlled device, the said check comprising a closed thin cylindrical receptacle of resilient material and having mercury therein, the mercury only partially filling the said receptacle, and the said receptacle being composed of material which is not corrodible by mercury.

WILLIAM K. SCHAUWEKER. 

